Flash light



G. A. SMITH FLASH LIGHT Aug. 3, 1933.

Filed Aug. 13, 1931 a. 6 mwA3/nventor Cittomel Patented Aug. 8, 1933 "UNITED STATES FLASH LIGHT Glenn A. Smith, United States Navy, Long Beach, Calif.

Application August 13, 1931. Serial No. 556,788

2 Claims. (01.

The present invention relates to improvements in flashlights, and has for an object to provide an extremely simple device enabling large production at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined reflector and socket for the bulb and involving a simple contact, allowing either a touch contact or a locked contact; also to provide a method of using the insulation pitch to securely and rigidly flx and hold the necessary parts of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of extreme simplicity requiring no moving parts except the movement of the free end of the contactor. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved flashlight constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing 5 designates the flat negative terminal of the cell X bent or arranged to provide a soldered contact at the point 6. 7 is one or more thin strip insulators. The combined reflector and socket is shown at 8 and may be of metal or composition. The battery is enclosed by a body of conventional insulating pitch 9.

10 shows a length of spring metal forming a simple contact soldered, as indicated at 11, to the positive terminal of the cell Y. The strip 10 extends up through the pitch 9 and to a considerable height thereabove paralleling substantially the axis of the reflector 8 and having a terminal portion 12 which is bent diagonally toward the axis of the reflector 8. This terminal end carries 3. lug 13. The case or covering is indicated at 14 and may be of customary stiff cardboard or a paper cover. The dry cells X and Y may be of suitable diameter and length.

The lip or lug 13 may be made by simply punching a small prong at right angles or at any other angle to the diagonal tip 12. The lamp or bulb is represented at 15.

In the use of the device by pushing the contact 10 over toward the lamp will cause contact of the lip 13 upon the rim of the reflector 8, and consequently the illuminating of the lamp 15. To look the device in the closed position the contact 10 is pushed over to the position indicated in Figure 2 by exerting additional pressure whereby the lip 13 will slip over and lock upon the rim of the reflector 8. The circuit is opened by lifting up upon the diagonal terminal part 12.

The combined reflector and socket 8 may be varied in height and diameter so as to protect and hold various sizes of bulbs. Security against short circuiting when being transported or subject to careless handling may easily be provided by unscrewing the bulb .15, placing a small paper cover over 8, or providing a small piece of fixed or free insulation to contact 10 or reflector 8 at the lip 13. The pitch may extend at various heights up to the reflector top and contact moved as necessary to right or left.

It will readily be seen that the device is simple in construction, of inexpensive manufacture, and the movable contact part is exposed for adjustment and correction.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:--

l. A flashlight comprising a container, cells therein, insulating pitch covering the cells, contacts embedded in the pitch and in connection with the cells, a socket in the pitch, a reflector extending from the socket outwardly of the pitch and having an upstanding free rim portion, a lamp in the'reflector and socket in connection with one contact, a spring metal arm embedded in the pitch and in connection with the other contact, said spring metal arm rising out of the pitch substantially parallel with the axis of the reflector and to a greater height than the reflector and having a diagonal tip portion inclining toward the reflector and being above the plane of the free upper rim portion of the reflector, and a lug projecting down toward the reflector from said diagonal tip in position to engage said rim when the diagonal tip is depressed and for also fitting within, and interlocking with, the rim of the reflector when the spring arm is flexed over toward the reflector.

2. A flashlight comprising a container, a battery in the container, a lamp on the container connected to one side of the battery, a reflector said arm having a short trip diagonally inclined toward the container and having a lug extending down from the tip in position to engage the refiector rim when the arm is flexed and adapted to engage over and upon the inside of the reflector rim interlocking therewith.

GLENN A. SMITH. 

